Our view: Today’s news leaves Gedson Fernandes struggling for a Tottenham future

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Tottenham Hotspur named their Europa League squad today, and Danny Rose was left out alongside Paulo Gazzaniga, which won’t have surprised many given the speculation surrounding their futures.

Spurs had to leave another player out though, and Jose Mourinho decided to axe midfielder Gedson Fernandes from the squad.

The 21-year-old was Jose Mourinho’s first signing back in January 2020, penning an 18-month loan deal with a view to a £40million permanent move in 2021.

Right now, it seems almost impossible to imagine that Spurs will be turning that deal permanent, and Fernandes is now in a real fight for his future.

Fernandes hasn’t played a single minute in the Premier League this season, and now won’t be playing in the Europe League either, meaning it’s hard to see where he will receive the playing time necessary to convince Spurs to buy him.

Tanguy Ndombele’s turnaround combined with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s arrival in midfield means that Fernandes has a number of players ahead of him in the Spurs pecking order.

Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko, Giovani Lo Celso and even Dele Alli figure to be ahead of Fernandes in midfield role, and the idea of him becoming a right back appears to have been kiboshed too.

The Portuguese talent played as a right back in pre-season, but Matt Doherty has joined and Serge Aurier hasn’t been sold, meaning Fernandes is unlikely to play in that role either.

Today’s news means Fernandes will find it even more difficult than before to prove that he is worth signing permanently, and he will be left relying on injury or suspension to get a concerted run in Mourinho’s side.

Right now, there just seems to be no chance that Tottenham will splash £40million on Fernandes, leaving the midfielder in store for a frustrating season.